Mormonism and Wikipedia/Joseph Smith, Jr./Death

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An analysis of Wikipedia article "Joseph Smith"

1839 - 1844

A FairMormon Analysis of Wikipedia: "Joseph Smith" A work by a collaboration of authors (Link to Wikipedia article here)

Distinctive views and teachings

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Reviews of previous revisions of this section

19 May 2009

Summary: A review of this section as it appeared in Wikipedia on 19 May 2009.

Section review

Death  Updated 9/3/2011

The author(s) of the Wikipedia article on Joseph Smith make(s) the following claim:

Smith and his brother Hyrum were held in Carthage Jail on charges of treason.

Author's sources:

FAIR's Response

•  Correct, per cited sources
  

The author(s) of the Wikipedia article on Joseph Smith make(s) the following claim:

On June 27, 1844, an armed group with blackened faces stormed the jail and killed Hyrum instantly with a shot to the face.

Author's sources:

FAIR's Response

•  Correct, per cited sources
  

The author(s) of the Wikipedia article on Joseph Smith make(s) the following claim:

Smith fired a pepper-box pistol that had been smuggled into the prison,

Author's sources:

FAIR's Response

•  Correct, per cited sources
  
• For a detailed response, see: Joseph Smith/Martyrdom/Joseph fired a gun

The author(s) of the Wikipedia article on Joseph Smith make(s) the following claim:

then "sprang to the window" before being shot several times. He died shortly after falling to the ground.

Author's sources:

FAIR's Response

•  Correct, per cited sources
  
• For a detailed response, see: Joseph Smith/Martyrdom/Masonic cry of distress
• For an analysis of Fawn Brodie's critical work, see A FAIR Analysis of No Man Knows My History: The Life of Joseph Smith.

The author(s) of the Wikipedia article on Joseph Smith make(s) the following claim:

Smith was buried in Nauvoo.

Author's sources:

FAIR's Response

•  Correct, per cited sources
  

The author(s) of the Wikipedia article on Joseph Smith make(s) the following claim:

Five men were tried for his murder; all were acquitted.

Author's sources:

FAIR's Response

•  Correct, per cited sources
  

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Wikipedia and anti-Mormon literature

Key sources	Roger Nicholson, "Mormonism and Wikipedia: The Church History That 'Anyone Can Edit'," Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture 1/8 (14 September 2012). [151–190] link
Wiki links	Mormonism and Wikipedia Martin Harris—analysis of wikipedia treatment Oliver Cowdery—analysis of wikipedia treatment First Vision—analysis of wikipedia treatment Joseph Smith—analysis of wikipedia treatment Golden plates—analysis of wikipedia treatment Three Witnesses—analysis of wikipedia treatment
Online	"Wiki Wars: In battle to define beliefs, Mormons and foes wage battle on Wikipedia", Michael De Groote, Deseret News, January 30, 2011. "Wiki Wars: In battle to define beliefs, Mormons and foes wage battle on Wikipedia", Michael De Groote, Mormon Times, January 31, 2011. "Something Wiki This Way Comes: How collaborative editing is changing the face of online LDS apologetics", R. Scott Lloyd, Church News, August 8, 2011. Something Wiki This Way Comes: How Collaborative Editing is Changing the Face of Online LDS Apologetics. A close look at the challenges and history of editing LDS topics in a Wikipedia. This is a 2011 FAIR conference presentation by Roger Nicholson, in PDF format.
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Notes